A research on sentence structures that 6th grade students in the context of deep structure and surface structure

Language is a social tool that enables communication between individuals. The sentences and symbols that enable the language to function are produced by going through certain mental processes.In this study, the sentences formed by 6th grade students were examined in terms of deep structure and surface structure which is one of the concepts of Transformational-Generative Grammar Theory. Transformational-Generative Grammar examines language more in terms of mind. It explores the abstract and subconscious processes of the language under its visible and emerging concrete structure. This theory, which investigates the mental structure of language, is one of the important linguistic theories today. 6th grade students were asked to write sentences to examine their sentences as a result of the visuals shown to the students. Phrase groups obtained as a result of these sentences were tried to be depicted with tree diagram used by Chomsky in the early stages of Producer Transformational Grammar Theory. The relationship between the deep structure and surface structures of the sentences has been examined within the framework of the rules of transformation. The sample of this study, which consists of 6th grade students, consists of 80 students studying in 6th grade in Denizli / Kale district. The sentences obtained from the students were examined through document analysis.